Heart Your Health | Heart Disease Myths

Welcome to Heart Your Health!

February is American Heart Month and we want to help educate our participants on all matters related to the heart - heart health that is! Heart disease is the leading case of death for men and women in the United States, but it can often be prevented with healthy choices. This week, you'll receive education and tips on how to show your heart a little love.

Myth vs. Fact

Today we'll get the real facts about the most common heart disease myths. There are some facts that might seem daunting, but the good news is that most of the time heart disease is totally preventable with a healthy diet and exercise. Look for more tips in the coming days with Heart your Health!

MYTH #1 : "Heart disease is a man's disease."

Most people are under the impression that breast cancer is the leading cause of death for American women. A lot of people aren't aware that heart disease actually claims the lives of 1 in 3 women each year, while only 1 in 31 women die from breast cancer each year. Heart disease is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined and takes more women's lives than men.

MYTH #2 : "Exercise alone will protect me."

While fitness is still very important to your health, it isn't the only factor that can decrease your risk for heart disease. Low cholesterol, healthy eating habits, and not smoking are some key factors in making sure heart disease is eliminated from your life. Even if you exercise regularly, you can still have high "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. If your family has a history of heart disease, the American Heart Association recommends getting your cholesterol checked before the age of 20.

MYTH #3 :"Heart disease runs in my family, so it's inevitable."

While you may be at a higher risk of heart disease if it runs in the family, there are still plenty of ways to significantly decrease your risk. Just by starting to recognize the signs of heart disease, more than 670,000 women have been able to prevent a diagnosis!

Join us this week (February 8-12) for more heart health education here on our blog and on social media!